Description

Tradescantia ohiensis

bluejacket

Ohio spiderwort

Tradescantia ohiensis is a 3' tall clumping plant with ornamental, blue-green grass-like foliage. It bears terminal clusters of showy blue flowers. Each individual flower is short-lived, opening in the morning and dying by day's end. This apparent shortcoming is largely compensated by the profusion of flowers and a long bloom season.

Cultivation

Bluejacket will tolerate open shade, but to the detriment of flower production. It is an easy plant to grow in average, dry to moist soils. The foliage tends to decline by late summer, but plants can be cut back to 6 inches, which will also encourage a possible secondary fall bloom period. It self-seeds readily and can spread aggressively under ideal circumstances. Mature clumps should be divided every few years to maintain a good flower production. Blooms up to 3 months from April to August. Zones 4-9

Propagation

Propagate by clump division in early spring or fall. Grows easily from fresh seeds sowed in fall. Collected seeds will require up to 3 months of cold-moist stratification to break dormancy.

Additional Notes

The stems exude a slimy, viscous substance when cut. Will hybridize with other species from the genus.